Your Reference: PN138111/66/02/XXXXXXXX

Over 200 private hospitals unite to ask Australians what they really know about mental illness

This week [insert hospital name] will test just how much locals really know about some of the nation’s most prevalent mental disorders as it joins 200 private hospitals across the country and takes part in the Australian Private Hospitals Association’s ‘What do you know…. about mental illness?’ campaign.

Targeting depression, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders, [insert hospital name] is one of many Australian private mental health hospitals striving to better educate Australians on the lesser known symptoms for these mental disorders and the innovative programmes they have available to treat them.

Running an interactive series of ‘What do you know...’ quizzes in its hospitals, through social media and online, the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) is also aiming to dispel negative stereotypes and common misconceptions associated with mental illness and get the Australian public more actively involved and talking about the facts.

“While public discussion about mental illness in Australia has certainly improved over the years, we still have a long way to go before we can say that we’ve fully erased negative stigmas,” said Michael Roff, CEO of APHA. “Education plays a key part in this and our campaign will look to actively engage the public in a way that will drive home the facts.”

Through pocket sized cards and Facebook quizzes, to an enlightening YouTube video, the eyes of the local (insert town name) community will be opened by [insert hospital name] to the range of different symptoms and treatments available for mental illness.

With almost half of Australians experiencing mental illness at some point in their lives, most people will know someone who is affected and Mr Roff stresses how important it is for the public to have a comprehensive understanding of the most common types of mental illness.

“The fact is that 45.5% of Australians experience mental illness at some point in their lifetime,” he said. “But exactly what classifies as a disorder, how to recognise the signs and how to ensure that your health insurance will cover you and your family if you need it, is not as clear. Not knowing these crucial facts contributes to why people tend to suffer with mental illness in silence and why it’s so important that we address this issue.”

The APHA’s ‘What do you know... about mental illness?’ has been devised to culminate in activities during this year’s Mental Health Week which will run from October 7 to 13. For more information on the campaign, please see facebook.com/valuingprivatehospitals.

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For media enquiries contact: [insert hospital Champion’s name and phone number]